I want to do a 2-day trip on the Columbia, for springers. I would like to get some input on where to spend the night. I have a cuddy, so I can sleep on the boat. I don't need water or electricity, just a safe spot.

1. beach the boat?
2. anchor the boat?
3. marina?

What part of the Columbia are you fishing?

Finegrain, look up Sand Island right off St. Helens. Fantastic moorage docks in calm water and a great area to fish.

The part where all the fish will be

I guess somewhere between Cathlamet and Vancouver, but I'm open to suggestions.

There's some great areas around Kalama. Kalama marina is nice, but don't know what they charge for overnight moorage. Across the river from the marina is an island, and on the other side of the island is some nice anchorage and well away from the shipping lane. If you beach the boat, pay particular attention to the tides, as they are still pretty significant up there.

Sand Island is a good spot. You can launch at the mouth of the Lewis and run across to Sand Island. There are docks and on land a covered sheter with fire pits if you want to stretch out a little. I dont think there is a charge there.

Fishing is good just on the out side of the island.

We fish there several time a year.

Kalama Marina is pretty cheap. You could also just sleep in the parking lot. Right across the river is an island with a piling field on the downstream end. You'd be safe anchoring there. Even if the incoming tide is big, at worst your current will diminish to about 1/2 knot. This time of year there should be plenty of flow. Lower down from there, up to somewhere above Cathlamet, the current will in fact reverse.

There is a mobile home park at the south end of the Kalama parking lot, and a campground back north one exit on the freeway. I use the campground a fair bit. This time of year, I use the motel, however.